Mining-machine chain.



G. B. NORRIS & Q, C. MARSHALL.

MINING MACHINE CHAIN. APPLICATION FILED FEB-20.1909. RENEWED APR-7.1915.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. NORRIS AND CURTIS C. MARSHALL, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TOTHE JEFFREY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

MINING-MACHINE CHAIN.

Application filed February 20, 1909, Serial No. 479,073. Renewed April7, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE B. NORRIS and CURTIS C. MARSHALL, citizensof the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklinand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMining-Machine Chains, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawlhis inventionrelates to improvements in cutter chains for coal mining or othersimilar machines. 1

The object of the invention is to provide a chain of strong and simpleconstruction which will furnish rigid support for the cutters and whichwill run smoothly in its guides. I I

In the drawings-Figure 1 is an elevation of a section of chain embodyingour invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is an end elevation alongthe line m-m of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the chain comprises a series of cuttercarrying links or blocks 1 and strap links 2 connecting the cutter linksby means of the pivot pins 3 and 4. Each of the cutter links has arecess 5 between the pivot pins 3 and 4. This recess is so formed thatit is adapted to be engaged by the sprocket wheel of the mining machine.Each of the cutter links has an extension at its rear end which isprovided with a transverse slot or hole 7 in which a cutter is mounted.The cutters are held in place by the set screws 9. At the rear of eachcutter hole is an integrally formed outward projecting boss 6" whichserves to give additional support for the outer part-of the cutter. Theextension 6 extends transversely to the full width of the chain, so thatthe bearing faces 10 will engage the outer edges of the strap links 2.The sections 11 of the cutter blocks are provided to give additionalsupport to the inner ends of the cutter and to form a more rigidengagement between the cutter links and the strap links.

The strap links 2 are provided with flanges 12 which are adapted to beengaged by guides of the mining machine. These flanges are tapered attheir ends to allow them to enter and leave the guides readily.

Lugs 13 are provided at the upper forward part of each of the cutterlinks. These are so positioned that each will engage the Specificationof Letters Patent.

v of the group Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

Serial No. 19,819.

mined by varying the clearance space between the lug 13 andthe'extension 6.

The cutter links are preferably arranged in groups of 3, 4, or 5 linkseach, each link having its cutter in a different plane from the planesof the other cutters of the group. In the drawings we have shown a chainhaving its links arranged in groups of three. The transverse arrangementof the cutters is shown in Fig. 3.

The mining machine chains commonly used have the cutters supportedentirely by the cutter links. The length of the links between thepivotal connections is necessarily short, and the tendency is for theforces acting on the cutters to throw the forward end of the cutter linkoutward.

This causes a correspondingly greater pressure on the inner end and thetendency of the links to tilt-causes much unnecessary friction. In achain embodying our invention'the' effect is to increase the length ofthe base along which the force from any one cutter'is distributed. Thisis accomplished by the cotiperation of the cutter and strap links whichprevents their bending outward in relation to one another. Thereis-still some tendency for the forward end of, the cutter link to bethrown outward, but this tendency is more than counteracted by thetendency ,of the rear end of the next preceding stra link to be throwninward. In this way al the forces between the guide way and thesupporting parts of the strap links act in the same direction and thereis no tendency toward a tilting of the links.

We are aware that several constructions have been before proposedwhereby the force acting upon the cutter may be distributed overmorethan one link. However, the construction provided for by ourinvention is especially advantageous in that the forces acting upon thecutters are transmitted in a direct line to the supporting guideway andalso in that the sprocket wheel engages directly with the cutter link.

IVhat we claim is 1. In a cutter chain for mining machines, thecombination of a series of cutter links, and a series of alternate straplinks pivotally connected to the cutter links, each of the cutter linkshaving between its pivotal connections a recess adapted to be engaged bya sprocket wheel, and each of the cutter links also having a rearwardextending lug provided with cutters and a longitudinal flange on eachside adapted to engage and be supported by the adjacenkstrap links,substantially as set forth.

2. In a cutter chain for mining machines, the combination of a series ofcutter links and a series of alternate connecting links pivotallyconnected to the cutter links, each of the cutter links having betweenits pivotal connections a recess adapted to be en gaged by a sprocketwheel, and each of the cutter links also having a rearward eX- tendinglug provided with cutters and with a longitudinal flange on each sideadapted to engage with and be supported by the adjacent strap links, andeach of the said 'strap links having a longitudinal flange adapted to beengaged by a portion of the mining machine, substantially as set forth.

3. In a cutter chain for mining machines, the combination of a series ofcutter links and a series of alternate connecting links, each of thecutter links having a rearward extending lug with a cutter attached anda projection near its forward end which is adapted to engage the rearlug of the next preceding link and prevent the chain from bendingoutward beyond a predetermined amount, substantially as set forth.

4. In a cutter chain for mining machines, the combination of a series ofcutter links and a series of alternate strap links pivotally connectedto the cutter links, each of the cutter links having a recess adapted tobe engaged by a sprocket wheel and being provided with a rearwardprojecting cutter carnieasei rying lug adapted to engage with and besupported by the adjacent strap links, the

cutter links being arranged in groups and the lug on each link of eachgroup having a cutter holding slot arranged transversely of the link indifferent longitudinal planes from the planes of the cutter holdingslots of the other links of the group, substantially as set forth.

5. A cutter chain for mining machines, comprising a series of cutterholding links, and a series of strap links pivotally connecting thecutter holding links, the cutter holding links each having a partadapted to be engaged by a sprocket wheel, and a part adapted for theattachment of a cutter the pivotal connection between each cutterholding link and one of the adjacent strap links being longitudinallyintermediate the sprocket engaging part and the cutter engaging part ofthe link, substantially as set forth.

6. In a cutter chain for mining machines, a series of alternatelyarranged pivotally connected. cutter carrying links and strap links,each of the said cutter carrying links having aprojection overlapping anadjacent strap link and adapted for the attachment of a cutter and apart in advance of the said projection for engagement with a sprocketwheel, substantially as set forth.

7 In a cutter chain for mining machines, a series of alternatelyarranged pivotally connected cutter carrying links and strap links, eachof the cutter carrying links having a cutter engaging part transverselypositioned relative to an adjacent strap link and adapted to engagetherewith, and a sprocket engaging part in advance of the said cutterengaging part, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures, in presence of twowitnesses.

GEORGE B. NORRIS. CURTIS C. MARSHALL. Witnesses H. B. ALEXANDER, CHAS.B. HAYS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

